The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-07-29
HON. r. A. COLLINS.

The Boston Congressman's Baggage Closely
Searched by Customs Officials.
BELFAST. July pa sensation created
here ro-day in consequence of the publication in
several newspapers of reports that the Hon.
Patrick A. Collins, of Boston. Mass. aud his
tire party. had been arrested by the government
on their arrival from Glasgow. There was.
however, no truth in the reports published,
and sut slight grounds for their invention. Tho
facts are that when Mr. Collins and his party
reached Belfast they were detained in the Gus
tom-house with much formality and their bag
gage subjected to rigid examination. Every
parcel of it was unpacked and minutely exam
ined Even the smallest handbag carried
opened and inspected. When the trunks were
emptied the bottoms and sides all sound ed
for the purpose of ascertaining whether they
contain ed secret chambers for smuggling goods
or dynamite. What made all this more exas-
perating the travellers the fact that the
work was performed by detectives and not by
the regular customs officials Mr. Collins was
manifestly astounded and irritated at the treat
ment to which he was subjected
Mr.. Collins who is the guest of Magistrate
Hughes, at his residence near Belfast. was in
tervewed this evening the subject of his
treatment at the hands of the custom house de-
tectives to-day. AT first he eaid he was in
clined to treat the matter as a huge joke, but
upon seeing the report of his alleged arrest in
the papers, and since reading the accounts of the
custom house incident. he had concluded that
the government is narrowly watching his move
ments The treatment to which he sub
iected to-day, he said he certainly not
prepared for by anything that happened or
that he had observed during his
tour of France ard Great Britain. He was
tonished when the detectives acccs.ed him on
board the steamer before be was able to land,
but he cooly and digniiedly answered the 9ues-
tions put to him. which, literally. were: What
is your name2 What is your businessl Where
are you froml Where are you goingP To these
questions he gave answers, respectively: patrick
A. Collins; chiefly pleasure; Glasgow; future
movements doubtful; call at the
Imperial Hotel, Belfast to morrow. and
Pll inform you.' Meanwhile. the
party accompanying Mr.. Collins stood at the
bottom OF the gangwaY, surrounded by a small
crowd. Mr.. Collins said the questions annoyed
him much less than the manner of asking them
The whole business is inexpicable TO him. He
has been in Ireland three times and has never
before had such experience. when the of
fcers seized my baggage on top of the questions
they had asked said Mr. Collins. Il was
simply amazed, but l offered OPP
position. In spite of the disgust
felt was amused at watching the officers seru-
tinze the contents of the trunks. bottle OF
bay rum elected deep attention and a package
containing some cakes of fragrant soap was ex-
amined with imm mense anxiety as probably sug-
gesting dynamite"
Mr. Collins expressed the opinion that since
the freedom of the city OF Dublin was conferred
upon him, the government has been upon his
track He does not mind but keenly feels his
inability to travel in a free country wit hout be-
ing moles.ed by ignorant policemen.